But MCP’s Dedza West constituency chairman Moses Mgudeyi turns down the women’s claims, saying, perhaps, they were happening in other areas.

“Not in this area. Here in Dedza West Constituency, we had one female candidate who was competing for parliamentary seat during the primaries.

“Party leaders from both the area and constituency supported her. We gave her all the campaign platforms just like male contestants but she lost the primary elections on her own,” Mgudeyi says.

However, MCP’s Dedza South West Constituency vice chairman Arnold Mkutumula confirmed that some party leaders are a barrier to women participation in politics because of greed.

“Some party officials were given cash and promised many things by some male candidates. This made some candidates to be favoured; as a result, female aspirants became victims.

“For example, there are reports that a certain male candidate asked a fellow party leader to help him win the primaries and promised to construct a house for him,” Mkutumula says.

He adds that during the primary election, there was one female candidate who was competing for Malembo Ward with men and she lost.

Late last year, Malawi Parliament passed Political Parties Bill that prohibits handouts to entice voters. The new law was meant to level the playing field for political candidates in an election.

Among others, Article 41 (1) of the law states that a candidate or political party contesting in an election shall not issue handouts.

Failure to adhere to the law is an offence which attracts a fine of K10 million or five years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD), an organisation that champions 50:50 Campaign in Dedza and Ntcheu districts, is mentoring female aspirants to build their political acumen.

YICODs Executive Director Andrew Bwanali says, currently, the organisation is working with 23 female aspirants for various leadership positions in Dedza alone.

“We have trained them in electoral process and issue-based campaign so that they should avoid smear campaign against fellow candidates.

“We are also going to meet political party leaders to reason with them against discouraging women participation in political leadership by favouring male candidates,” Bwanali says.

He, however, says their organisation is not going to provide any financial resources to female aspirants.

According to Malawi Demographic and Health Survey Report of 2015-2016, 52 percent of Malawi’s population are female and 85 women were in leadership positions as members of parliament and ward councillors.

As 2019 tripartite elections are fast approaching, stakeholders in the 50:50 Campaign are eager to see if voters will give more seats to women candidates.